Alternative formats of this report are available upon request. Saugeen Conservation is a proud member of Conservation Ontario 1078 Bruce Rd. 12, P.O. Box 150, Formosa ON N0G 1W0 Tel. 519-367-3040 Email: [email protected]www.svca.on.ca North Saugeen River Watershed CONSERVATION WATERSHED REPORT CARD Working to Keep Your Future Green A Watershed Perspective The North Saugeen River is a tributary of the main Saugeen River and drains 269 square kilometres of predominantly agricultural and forested land. The river is 52 kms in length with an average gradient of 3 metres per km. Tributaries include Negro and Hamilton Creeks and smaller unnamed creeks. Communities include Holland Centre, Williamsford, Mooresburg, Scone, and Chesley. There are a number of natural ponds and lakes in this watershed, including Robson Lakes and McCullough Lake. Working to Keep Your Future Green Staff work with partners and organizations in implementing projects that aim to improve the local environment. Research, lab and field work, data analysis, observations, testing, and so much more, is completed by staff in helping to determine the best and most applicable environmental measures to apply in each sub- watershed. Watersheds are complex systems where everything is connected. We all live downstream.
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Alternative formats of this report are available upon request.
Saugeen Conservation is a proud member of Conservation Ontario
1078 Bruce Rd. 12, P.O. Box 150, Formosa ON N0G 1W0 Tel. 519-367-3040 Email: [email protected] www.svca.on.ca
North Saugeen River Watershed
CONSERVATIONCONSERVATION
WATERSHEDREPORT CARD
Working to Keep Your Future Green
A
Watershed Perspective
The North Saugeen River is a tributary of the main Saugeen River and drains 269 square kilometres of predominantly agricultural and forested land. The river is 52 kms in length with an average gradient of 3 metres per km. Tributaries include Negro and Hamilton Creeks and smaller unnamed creeks. Communities include Holland Centre, Williamsford, Mooresburg, Scone, and Chesley.
There are a number of natural ponds and lakes in this watershed, including Robson Lakes and McCullough Lake.
Working to Keep Your Future Green
Staff work with partners and organizations in implementing projects that aim to improve the local environment. Research, lab and field work, data analysis, observations,
testing, and so much more, is completed by staff in helping to determine the best and most applicable environmental measures to apply in each sub-watershed.
Watersheds are complex systemswhere everything is connected.
We all live downstream.
1 7Q10 - the lowest mean flow for seven consecutive days that has a 10-year recurrence interval period, or a 1 in 10 chance of occurring in any one year.
2 7Q20 - the lowest mean flow for seven consecutive days that has a 20-year recurrence interval period, or a 1 in 20 chance of occurring in any one year.
*
Area269 sq. km
MunicipalitiesMunicipality of Arran-Elderslie, Municipality of West Grey, Township of Chatsworth, Municipality of Grey Highlands
Physiography34% till moraine, 28% spillway, 22% till plain (drumlinized), 10% clay plain, 1% water, 1% sand plain, 1% drumlin, 1% peat and muck, 1% till plain (undrumlinized)
Soils65% medium to moderately fine loam, 11% organic material, 9% silty clay, 5% fine to moderately coarse sandy loam, 4% other (may include small percentages of alluvium, breypan, bottomlands etc), 2% clay loam, 2% silty loam, 1% coarse sandy loam and loamy sand
DamsIn total there are 12 dams in the watershed, of which 9 are considered large dams (greater than 3 metres in height).
Sewage Treatment FacilitiesChesley
Woodlot SizeLarge forested areas with forest interior in the central watershed
Land Use51% agriculture; 45% forested; 1% urban
Provincially Significant Natural Areas - Kinghurst Forest, Kinghurst West, Beaverdale Fen, Lily Oak Forest, Robson Lakes, Kinghurst West, Harriston Lake, Beaverdale Bog, Minkes - Stewart Lakes, Negro Lake, Hamilton Creek, Wodenhouse Marsh Wetland
Rare Species (obtained from the National Heritage Information Centre (NHIC) Website)Bobolink, Eastern Meadow Lark,,Eastern Red Damsel, Elfin Skimmer, Golden Redhorse, Ocellated Darner, Rainbow Mussel, Red-shouldered Hawk, Hungerford's Crawling Water Beetle, Eastern Prairie Fringed-orchid, Ebony Boghaunter, Jefferson X Blue-spotted Salamander, Eastern Ribbonsnake, Harlequin Darner, Hart's-tongue Fern, Massasauga Rattlesnake, Eastern Milksnake, Northern Map Turtle,Snapping Turtle, Rusty Snaketail,Scarlet Beebalm,
Watershed Perspective
General Information
Forest Conditions
Wetland Conditions
Surface Water Quality
Groundwater Quality
AVERAGE GRADES
A
iBA
A
/
Wetland ConditionsThis report card summarizes the
conditions of all wetlands. This watershed
scores an 'A' grade with 21.9% wetland
cover. This is above the Environment
Canada recommendation of 10% as the
minimum needed for a healthy watershed.
Existing wetlands should be protected to
maintain this grade.
Forest Conditions
With an average grade of 'A' for forest
conditions, the North Saugeen River
Watershed exceeds the Environment
Canada guidelines of 30% forest cover
and 10% forest interior. Both forest
cover and forest interior scored an 'A'
grade which is the same as the last report
card. The grade for riparian cover
improved to a 'B' from a 'C' grade. The
recommendation is that 50% of the 30
metre wide riparian zone should have
forest cover. The North Saugeen River
Watershed has 45.5% of the riparian zone
forested. Tree planting along riparian
zones and on marginal farmland should
be considered to ensure the forest
conditions are maintained or improved.
Excellent conditions.
Good conditions. Some areas may require enhancement and/or improvements.
Conditions that warrant general improvements.
Poor conditions. Overall
improvements necessary.
Degraded conditions, in need of considerable improvement.
Ecosystem Grade Description
A
D
b
C
F
The wetland evaluation system was created to help protect wetlands valued at a provincial scale. Under the Planning Act, provincially significant wetlands are protected from development and alteration.
Surface Water QualityThis watershed scores an average grade of
'B' for surface water quality, the same as the
last report card. This indicates good
ecosystem conditions, however, some areas
need to be enhanced. While the
phosphorus grade declined from an 'A' to a
'B', the E. coli grade stayed the same at a
'B'. The average total phosphorus
concentration is still below the Provincial
Water Quality Objective of 0.03 mg/L. as is
the average E. coli at 100 CFU/100mL.
The benthic invertebrate grade improved
from a 'C' to a 'B'. Changes in aquatic
organisms or benthic invertebrates are seen
as early indicators of changes in water
quality. Efforts must continue to
encourage landowners and the agricultural
community to protect and improve natural
land cover.
Groundwater QualityThe groundwater quality in the two
monitoring wells in this watershed
continues to be excellent. The wells
monitor three overburden aquifers and one
bedrock aquifer. It should be noted that
groundwater aquifers do not conform to
watershed boundaries but rather flow in an
east to west direction through the
watershed. There have been no
exceedences of the Ontario Drinking Water
Standards during this study period.
PSaugeen Conservation aims to improve watershed health through virtually all its programs.
PSaugeen Conservation is a key player in providing assistance and technical expertise to local groups, committees, ministries etc. that work
to improve the local environment.
PThrough Saugeen Conservation's tree planting efforts and Ontario's 50 Million Tree Program, a total of 213,042 trees were planted in
this watershed.
PIn 2015, Saugeen Conservation removed the
Lockerby Dam on this river system. Fish can
now move freely along this part of the
waterway. The site was also rehabilitated.
Numerous partners were involved in this
endeavour.
PMcCullough Lake Cottagers Association
completed shoreline restoration for various
properties around the lake that will result in
improved water quality.
PThe Ontario Steelheader's Association and
the Lake Huron Fishing Club release adult
rainbow trout into this river system on an
annual basis. (This was discontinued in 2016.)
PSaugeen Conservation works closely with
local agricultural organizations to provide
ongoing workshops and seminars for farmers
on a variety of different conservation topics.
PGrey Bruce Sustainability Network works
closely with Saugeen Conservation on several
different environmental and educational
projects.
PSaugeen Nature is active in the Saugeen
Watershed through education and other
partnerships. They promote the wide use and
conservation of natural resources and
encourage the preservation of wild species
and natural areas in Grey and Bruce counties.
What is being done in this Watershed?
PThe Bruce Grey Woodlands Association hosts various workshops and tours on forestry related topics.
PThe Forest Health Collaborative helps to educate municipalities and the public on forest health issues.
PStewardship Grey Bruce offers funding and technical support for landowners in the watershed interested in completing habitat
enhancement projects.
PThe Lake Huron Fishing Club (with funding from Bruce Power), works with local schools in setting up fish aquariums to educate students
about the importance of a healthy fishery.
PSaugeen Conservation offers over 50 different hands-on environmental programs to over 10,000 children annually, including the Grey
Bruce Children's Water Festival and the Bruce Grey Forest Festival. This watershed also plays host to the Grey Bruce Children's Water
Festival (Village of Chesley), a hands-on initiative for grade four students across Grey and Bruce.
PThe Grey-Bruce ALUS program recognizes land stewardship and assists farmers in implementing and funding projects to produce
ecosystem services. ALUS aims to improve the biodiversity on the agricultural landscape.
PBruce Grey Woodlands Association educates the community through workshops and tours on forest related topics.
PEnvironmental self assessments are available for the rural non-farm landowner with the release of The Rural Landowner Stewardship
Guide for the Lake Huron Watershed. This guide provides a framework for landowners to evaluate their property and help determine best